Overview
- More than 120 midwives and maternity staff have secured a settlement of almost £750,000 after legal action led by the Royal College of Midwives and Thompsons Solicitors.
- An independent Good Governance Institute review found concerns first raised in July 2021 were not treated as a significant health risk until October 2022, creating prolonged occupational exposure for staff.
- Staff reported symptoms linked to long-term exposure to nitrous oxide, including fatigue, headaches, brain fog and anxiety, while unions stressed that gas and air remains safe for women in labour.
- The Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust has apologised, said it should have acted faster, and says it has improved monitoring of medical gases on the Basildon maternity unit.
- The RCM says the case exposes wider problems with ageing maternity buildings and failing ventilation across the NHS and the Department of Health and Social Care points to a £271 million programme to address maternity and neonatal estate safety.